Sisters identified as victims in fatal Putnam fire

Wednesday

Jan 23, 2013 at 6:00 AMJan 23, 2013 at 10:26 PM

Two children were killed in a house fire on Prospect Street early Tuesday morning, a fire so intense it prevented rescuers from entering the home. “We knew early on that this was a recovery and not a rescue,” said Assistant Chief Norman Perron.

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The office of Connecticut’s chief medical examiner said two girls found dead after a house fire in Putnam died of smoke inhalation.

The girls were identified as Alexis Auger and her younger sister, Ava Auger, according to the Associated Press.

The two children, ages 3 years old and 9 months old, were unable to escape their third floor apartment at 6-8 Prospect St.

The fire was reported at 12:40 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters said the intense flames and heavy smoke prevented anyone from entering the Victorian-style home.According to assessor’s records, the house is owned by Eastern Connecticut Contractors.

The Victorian-style home was built in 1867 and was converted into five apartments; its assessed value was $292,000.

The girls’ mother, who is pregnant, has been hospitalized. Four others were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries.The cause of death was released Wednesday following autopsies by the medical examiner’s office.

Fire Marshal Norm Perron said fire was caused by accident but it will be difficult to determine the origin because the damage is so widespread, according to the Associated Press.

The structural damage to the home was so significant that it needed to be stabilized before state troopers and firefighters could enter to begin their investigation, according to Connecticut State Police.

The bodies of the children were found on the third floor.

The mother “was hysterical. She was not doing well,” Assistant Fire Chief and Putnam Fire Marshal Norman Perron said. Because of her condition, she was taken to Day Kimball Hospital and then to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester. Her condition was unavailable.

Four other people were taken to Day Kimball Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening injuries. Assistant Chief Perron said he believed those four were suffering from smoke inhalation.

Connecticut State Police said this morning the names of the two children who died will be released following an autopsy by the state medical examiner. That part of the investigation could be completed by this afternoon.

Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which was reported at 12:40 a.m. at 6-8 Prospect St., a house that had been converted into five apartments.

“We knew early on that this was a recovery and not a rescue,” Assistant Chief Perron said.

The roof of the Putnam home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived about 1 a.m., and it later collapsed into the third floor, where the children were said to be, authorities said. The fire wasn't under control until about 6:30 a.m.

“There was a substantial amount of fire and heavy, dense smoke,” Assistant Chief Perron said. The firefighters first into the building could not make it up the stairs before they were pushed back by the fire and smoke, he said. “It was not the kind of conditions that were survivable.”

According to assessor's records, the house is owned by Eastern Connecticut Contractors. The Victorian-style home was built in 1867 and was converted into five apartments; its assessed value was $292,000.

Soot-colored ice clung to the side of the white home Tuesday after the fire. Windows on all three floors were shattered. On the first floor, soggy red drapes dangled over the mint-green windowsill trim; in another room stood an empty clothes drying rack. On the second floor, mangled miniblinds hung out a window. Frozen potted plants lined the stone steps and stone walls. The roof was caved in, exposing the charred upper floor.

The structural damage to the home was so significant that it needed to be stabilized before state troopers and firefighters could enter to begin their investigation, according to Connecticut State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance.

Investigators — including a state police officer and cadaver dog — combed through the debris into the late afternoon. The bodies of the children were found on the third floor, and were taken to the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine how they died.

“Your heart just aches for them,” said Josh Peach, a neighbor who was at home yesterday with his wife, Kara, and their young daughter.

“My dad called last night when he heard about the fire and asked it we knew what house was on fire and if everybody got out,” Mrs. Peach said. “Then I looked out the window and saw all the fire and smoke. There were a lot of flames.”

Mrs. Peach, a local hairdresser, said one of her clients lived in one of the apartments and made it out safely.

Neighbor Brian Vaiciulis said the sound of a truck engine woke him up about 1:20 a.m.

“I got up and I saw the lights on the firetrucks,” said Mr. Vaiciulis, who didn't know any residents of the house that caught fire. “Then I saw the flames over the house next door. They were pretty high.”

State police fire and explosion detectives and Eastern District major crime detectives working with the Putnam fire marshal are investigating to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Fire and life safety specialists from the state fire marshal's office also went to the scene to check for any code violations.

Meanwhile, state police major crime detectives are doing an “untimely death” investigation, with the assistance of the Putnam police.